Hoist.



C. G. PALMER.

HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1914.

Patented Feb. 6,1917.

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HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4 1914.

Patented Feb. 6. 1917.

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HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1914.

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C. G. PALMERJ HOIST.

APPLICATEON FILED FEB. 4, 1914.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1914.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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C. G. PALMER.

HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. I914- 1,214.,818. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

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CHARLES G. PALMER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HOIST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed February 4, 1914. Serial No. 816,607.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hoists, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to hoists adapted especially for use in mines, and is an improvement over the hoist or hoisting mechanism forming the subject matter of my prior Patent No. 904,717, granted October 26th, 1908.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a hoist of the vertical type which is more efhcient and more satisfactory in operation than the prior hoists.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide an improved hoist of the continuously operating type such as disclosed in my prior patent, wherein the loaded cars are successively picked up from a track, elevated and dumped, and thence lowered and deposited on the track for the empty cars,

without any interruption in the operation. VVlnle the present mvention possesses all the advantages of my prior hoist, as described in the patent above referred to, the

present construction has the additional advantages that the cars are dumped in a more satisfactory manner, and with less breakage of the material being handled; the loaded cars are picked up with somewhat less shock to the elevating and carrying mechanism; and the power for operating the hoist is applied in a more satisfactory manner and with higher eliiciency.

M Y invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts of the hoisting mechanism, which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly diagrammatic, of the principal parts of the hoist, the structural members of the hoist shaft being omitted. Fig. 2 is a side view of the lower part of the hoist, on an enlarged scale, the tracks and some other parts being in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the lower part of the hoist, the section being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. e is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing particularly the loading and unloading track section. Fig. 6 is a side view substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing a carrier about to pick up a loaded car. Fig. 7 is a top plan View of one of the car carriers, with parts in section and the car being shown by dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a side view of the same. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same along the line 99 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the upper part of the hoist.

My improved hoist includes two endless continuously traveling chains 1.0, or equivalents, to which power is applied in the manner hereinafter described, which chains are arranged in parallel planes, the distance between which is slightly greater than the length of the car which is to be elevated, dumped and lowered. The chains are provided with substantially vertical ascending sections 10 and descending sections 10*. At the top of the hoist, the chains pass over, in a manner which will be explained later, two series of sprocket wheels 11, 12, 13 and 14 mounted on the ends of shafts supported in bearings in suitable supports in the upper part of the hoist or framework of the shaft,-the details of which need not be here set forth. Power is applied equally to both sprockets 12 from a single motor 15 located preferably at the top of the hoist and connected by gearing. 16 to a shaft 17 having pinions 17 which engage gears 18 fixed to the shafts to which the sprockets 12 are attached. At the bottom of the hoist the chains pass about two pairs of sprockets 19 and 20, mounted on the inner ends of short shafts suitably journaled in bearings supported on the lower part of the hoist shaft.

The cars 21 are carried about the circuit of the chains by carriers 22 located between and pivotally connected to the chains. Each carrier is composed of two upright arms or stiles 22 and a horizontal cross bar or beam 22 rigidly attached to the lower ends of the arms. The upper ends of the arms 22 are secured to the inner end portions of pins 22 which are journaled in the chains and thus pivotally connect the carrier to the chains. The car is adapted to be supported on a carrier at four points, the lower cross bar having two supports 22 which are adapted to engage the bottom of the car body, and two supports 22 adjacent the stiles or upright arms, said last named supports being in the form of pockets which are adapted to receive and support the bumpers of a car. For a purpose to be explained presently, the car is adapted to be locked onto the carrier by a pair of swinging locking arms 22 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the inner ends of the pins 22 upon which the carrier is swung, the lower ends of these locking arms being adapted to swing inwardly above the bumpers when the latter are in the pockets. There may be as many of these carriers as is required to give the hoist the desired capacity, it being possible, of course, as in my prior hoisting mechanism, to increase or decrease the capacity to suit the requirements of any particular case. Preferably, the carriers are arranged in pairs which are spaced apart one-half the length of the chains so that a descending carrier with its empty car will counterbalance an ascending carrier with its car, only sufficient motive power being required to elevate the load in the car, and, of course, to overcome friction of the chains, and of other operating parts, which is not considerable.

At the bottom of the shaft is provided a track 23 upon which is adapted to be run the loaded cars, this track being beneath the ascending sections of the chains, and at the side of the track for the loaded cars, and beneath the descending sections of the chains is a track 24 which receives the empty cars. The loaded and empty tracks do not extend entirely across the shaft, but terminate short of the far side of the shaft, so that one of the upright arms of the carrier may travel past said tracks, without interference by the latter. Furthermore, while the end portion of the loaded track which is adapted to support a loaded car is substantially straight or horizontal, the end portion of the empty track which is adapted to receive the empty cars, is inclined at substantially an angle of 45 to the horizontal.

It is essential to the operation of this hoist that the track 23 for the loaded cars which for the sake of brevity may be termed the loaded track, and the track 2a for the empty cars, which may be termed the empty track, have certain novel characteristics or features of construction;, the purpose of which will be best understood if a brief preliminary explanation is given of the operation of depositing the empty cars and picking up the loaded cars.

As a carrier descending with an empty car reaches the lower part of the shaft, the car is deposited on the end of the empty track, and thence the carrier travels laterally, the upright arms of the carrier moving in planes .at right angles to the rails of the tracks, and the lower cross beam of the carrier passing in a horizontal plane from a vertical plane substantially midway between the rails of the empty track to a vertical plane substantially midway between the rails of the loaded track. Thisnecessitates the use of movable track sections or gates in the inner rails of the empty and loaded tracks, to permit the passage therethrough of one of the upright arms of the carrier, and it necessitates also that the inner track rail sections beneath the empty car which has just been deposited on the empty track and beneath the loaded car which is next to be picked up by the carrier, be supported or suspended from above, so as not to obstruct the lateral or horizontal movement of the lower cross beam of the carrier beneath such track section. In consequence, the inner rail. of the empty track is provided with a gate 25 which in this case swings vertically, and the inner rail of the loaded track is provided with a gate 26 (see particularly Fig. 5) which in this case swings horizontally. Furthermore, the inner rail sections 23 and 24: (see Figs. 3 and 5) z'. e. the portions of the inner rails of both tracks between the gates and the ends of the rails are supported from above by vertical supports 27 which are secured to cross girders 28 extending transversely of the shaft above the lower sprockets 19 and 20, said girders being about midway between the ascending and descending sections of the chains. automatically operated. The gate 25 for the empty track is normally closed, but just before a carrier deposits an empty car on the inclined part of said track, said gate is opened by a roller 29 (see Figs. 6 and 8) on the outer end of one of the carrier supporting pins 22 said roller engaging and shifting an arm 30 (see Figs. 2, 3 and t) of a rocker shaft 30 which is connected by a link 30 to a counterweight 30 attached to the pin which pivots the gate 25. After the car is deposited on the empty track in a manner which will be next described, and after the carrier passes below and thence laterally from the car thus deposited, the car which is temporarily held on the inclined part of the track is released, and in passing down the track, closes the gate which remains closed until it is again opened as the next carrier and empty car approach the empty track. The gate 26 in the loaded track is normally open, being normally held in that position by a pivoted counter-weighted bell crank 31 connected by a link 51 to the gate. WVhen a loaded car is run onto the track to a position for elevation by the carrier the wheels of the car engage the upper end of the counter-weighted member and swing the same downwardly, causing the closure of the gate so that the car can pass over the gate to the position to be engaged by the carrier and elevated. Immediately after the car passes the gate and is brought up against a stop 32 (see Fig. 6) at the end Both gates are of the loaded track, the gate automatically opens. As the carrier and empty car approach the empty track, a projection 22 at the upper end of the rear locking arm 2:2 engages a stationary part 22 projecting inwardly from a suitable support (see Figs. 3 and 4:) and this rocks the corresponding locking arm :22 laterally away from the corresponding bumper of the car. Immediately thereafter the rear wheels of the car engage the upper ends of the inclined rails of the empty track, and the continued downward movement of the carrier tilts the car, withdrawing the lower bumper from the pocket and thence the forward wheels engage the track, whereupon the carrier is freed of the car which is left standing on the track. The car is held temporarily in its inclined position on the track by a pair of pivoted stop members 33 which normally stand in front of both the rear wheels. The carrier then passes about the lower sprockets and moves laterally, the cross bar 22? passing beneath the track sections, as previously explained, and thence the carrier picks up the loaded car, the car being supported at the four points, as previously explained. As the carrier rises beneath the loaded car, the bumpers of the car engage and swing outwardly the locking arms 22 and after the car has settled onto the carrier the locking arms again swing inwardly.

The carrier now passes up the ascending.

sections of the chains to the dumping point.

Just before the carrier picks up the loaded car, and after it has passed laterally beyond both the inner rail of the empty track and the inner rail of the loaded track, the empty car is released and runs down the inclined track. This is accomplished by a roller 34 on the outer end of the carrier supporting pin 2;) opposite to that which supports the gate opening roller 29, which roller 34; engages a counterweight 35 (seeFig. 3) supported for rocking movement and connected by links and levers, designated 35"-, to the two stops 33 which, as before stated, engage or stand in front of the rear wheels of the empty car when it is deposited on the empty track. Through this mechanism, the stop members are swung outwardly, releasing the car, and as soon as the roller passes the counterweight the latter returns to its normal position, again moving inwardly the stops, which are then again in position to hold the next empty car on the track. As the car runs 0d the inclined parts of the empty track, the gate is by the action of the car swung downwardly so as to permit the passage thereover of the empty car.

The shock to the chains due to starting and accelerating a loaded car up to normal chain speed is minimized by shock absorbing mechanism acting in conjunction with the hoist chains. The shock absorbing mechanism consists of idlers or idler sprockets 36 which engage the ascending sections of the chains a short distance above the lower sprockets 19, and normally deflect the chains inward. The sprockets are supported on bell cranks 36 which in turn are pivotally supported at one side of the sha t, and are acted upon by adjustable counter-weights which function in the following manner: The counter-weights each consist chiefly of a heavy chain 36 which is attached to the outer end of the bell crank lever, and passes upwardly and over a chain wheel 36 in .uch a manner that the weight of the major portion of the chain normally produces an upward pull on the outer end of the bell crank lever, causing the idler to deflect the hoisting chain which is somewhat longer than the absolutely required length. The deflection of the chain is at a maximum when there is no load below the idler sprocket, and during this period the shock absorber acts as a chain tightener. As the carrier engages a loaded car, stresses are introduced in the lower end of the chain, and the direction of these stresses above and below the idler have a component tending to throw out the idler and to straighten the chain. As the chain straightens, the angle of deflection between the chain sections above and below the idler lessen, and the component in these sections becomes rapidly less. As a result, it is necessary to lessen the pull of the counterweight acting against the said component in order that the chain may coinpletely straighten, and the hoisting stresses remain constant during as long an accelerating period as possible. This is accomplished by allowing the counterweight chain to pass over the chain wheel so that a partial straightening of the hoist chain causes a proportional part of the counterweight chain to pass from the one or positive, to the other or negative side of the chain wheel, thus proportionately lessening the active counterweight, and so reducing the thrust of the idler. This thrust is then in direct proportion to the deflection of the hoist chain and becomes practically zero when the hoist chain acts in a straight line. This also results in eliminating side thrust on the carrier guides when the carrier passes the idlers. Preferably small counterweights 86 are provided on the lower ends of the chains 86* to provide small initial thrust on the hoisting chains and to prevent the chains 36 running off the chain wheels 36. As the carrier and loaded car are elevated substantially to the top of the shaft, the contents of the loaded car is dumped into an inclined apron or chute 37, the upper end of which is between the chains adjacent the two sprockets 11. It will be observed that at the upper end of the chute are curved guides 38 which are adapted to be engaged by rollers 39 supported on one side of the carrier,- the guides 38 being engaged by the rollers 39 while the pins 22 upon which the carrier is hung are passing around the upper part of the sprockets l1, and around the lower portion of the sprockets 12. By the action of the guides and rollers, while the pins supporting the carrier are passing about the sprockets just mentioned, the carrier and the car are tilted so that the contents of the car is dumped from the side thereof. Furthermore, the tilting movement of the car and carrier is such that there is very little breakage in the coal or other contents being dumped from the car. This is true by reason of. the fact that during the greater portion of the tilting movement, the carrier is turning about the axis of the sprockets 11, and during such time, the side edge of the car substantially coincides with such axis, and is close to and substantially in engagement with the upper end of the chute.

Although it is not essential to the operation, that the carriers be guided in passing around their circuit of movement, I prefer that they be guided by vertical guide members 40 which engage slots 40 in the outer sides of the arms of the carriers while the latter are moving from the loaded track up to the dumping point (see Fig. 7), and to insure that the cars will be deposited properly on the empty track, and that the carrier will pass downwardly between the rails of the empty track, guide members ll may be provided at the lower part of the shaft on the descending side of the chains. See Figs. 2 and 3.

The operation of the hoist may be briefly outlined as follows: Loaded cars will be run successively along the loaded track to the end thereof at the bottom of the shaft of the hoist, each car as it is brought to position to be elevated, closing the gate in the loaded track and then being brought up against the stop at the end of the loaded track, the gate again immediately opening after the car has passed to a position to be elevated. Assuming then that a loaded car is on the loaded track in position to be elevated, and that a carrier carrying an empty car is being lowered, the roller on the side of the chain, by engagement with the pivoted arm of the shifting mechanism for the gate, causes said gate to be opened or swung upwardly, and immediately afterward, the car is deposited on the inclined section of the track. First, the locking bar over the rear bumper is swung laterally away from said bumper, after which the rear wheels settle on the track, just behind the stop members, and thence the front wheels engage the track. Both gates now being opened the carrier after reaching its lower limit of downward travel, passes laterallywith one arm of the carrier passing through the open gates with the cross beam of the carrier passing beneath the inner track sections. Just before the carrierpicks up the loaded car, the roller on the side of the chain, by engaging the counterweighte'd member of the releasing mechanism, causes the stops to be withdrawn from the front of the rear wheels of the inclined empty car, whereupon said car runs down the track, first closing the gate. T hence the loaded car is picked up by the carrier, the locking bars swinging into place so as to lock the car to the carrier. Thence the car is elevated to the dumping point, the shock absorber minimizing the shock which is imparted to the chain as the chains take up the load of the carrier and loaded car. As the rollers on the sides of the carrier engage the curved guides, the carrier and car are both tilted or rocked sidewise, so as to empty the car entirely. During such tilting and dumping operation, the car is prevented from falling off the carrier by the locking arms which engage the bumpers, said arms being held by gravity in locking position during the dumping operation. Furthermore, while the car is being tilted and dumped flanges 22* provided on one side of the middle supports 22 of the carrier support the major portion of the load of the car and its contents and relieve the bumpers and the locking parts which engage the bumpers of any material stresses. As the cage and car are thus tilted, the pins supporting the carrier move downwardly and forwardly about the forward sprockets l2, and thence move upwardly and laterally or horizontally, during which lateral movement the rollers on the outer ends of the cage supporting pins may travel over horizontal guides 42 (see Fig. l) and thence the carrier and empty car pass downwardly over the sprockets, and are lowered, after which the car is again deposited on the empty track. This operatron is repeated for each car and each carrier.

I claim- 1. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, means for hoisting and lowering the carrier having ascending and descending sections, tracks for adjacent the lower ends of the ascending and descending sections respectively, the inner rails of the tracks having gates to permit the passage of a portion of the carrier therethrough from one track to the other.

2. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier, and provided with ascending and descending sections andwith sections at the ends'thereof for moving the carrier laterally, tracks for loaded and empty cars adjacent the lower ends of the ascending and descending sections respectively, gates in the inner rails of the tracks,

and means for automatically actuating said gates, so as to permit the passage of a por tion of the carrier therethrough as the carrier moves laterally from one track to the other.

3. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless hoisting and elevating means for the carrier, provided with ascending and descending sections and with sections for moving the carrier laterally between the ascending and descending sections, tracks for loaded and empty cars at the lower part of the hoist, means being provided to permit the bottom of the carrier to pass downwardly between the rails of the track for the empty cars, thence laterally beneath the inner rails of the two tracks, and thence upwardly between the rails of the track for the loaded cars.

4. In a hoist, a carrier for a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier and provided with ascending and descending sections and with sections at the ends thereof by which the carrier is moved laterally, tracks for empty and loaded cars at the lower part of the hoist, portions of the inner rails of the two tracks being sup ported from above so as to permit the passage thereunder of the lower part of the carrier as the same is moved laterally from the track for the empty cars to the track for the loaded cars.

5. In a hoist, a carrier for a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier provided with ascending and descending sections and with portions for moving the carrier laterally between the same, tracks forloaded and empty cars at the bottom of the hoist, the inner rails of both tracks having gates for the passage therethrough of a portion of the carrier, and sections of the inner rails being supported from above so that the bottom portion of the carrier may pass beneath the same from the track for the empty cars to the track for the loaded cars.

6. In a hoist, a carrier for a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier provided with ascending and descending sections and with portions for moving the carrier laterally between the same, tracks for loaded and empty cars at the bottom of the hoist, the inner rails of both tracks having gates for the passage therethrough of a portion of the carrier, and sections of the inner rails being supported from above so that the bottom portion of the carrier may pass beneath the same from the track for the empty cars to the track for the loaded cars, and means for automatically operating said gates.

7. In a hoist, a carrier for a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the car, tracks for loaded and empty cars at the bottom of the hoist, said carrier having a car supporting portion which extends below the tracks when the carrier is at the bottom of the hoist, said portion passing downwardly between the rails of the track for the empty cars and thence laterally, and thence upwardly between the rails of the track for the loaded cars.

8. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the car, tracks for loaded and empty cars at the lower part of the hoist, said carrier having a car supporting portion which extends below the tracks when the carrier is at the bottom of the hoist, said portion passing with a continuous movement downwardly between the rails of the track for the empty cars, thence laterally beneath the inner rails of both tracks, and thence upwardly between the rails of the track for the loaded cars, so that an empty car will be deposited on the track for the empty cars, and a loaded car will be engaged by the carrier and elevated.

9. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier, tracks for loaded and empty cars at the lower part of the hoist, said carrier having a portion which extends below the tracks when the carrier is in its lowermost position, said portion passing downwardly between the rails of the track for the empty cars, thence laterally beneath the inner rails of both tracks and thence .upwardly between the rails of the track for the loaded cars, so that an empty car will be deposited on the track for the empty cars and a loaded car will be engaged and elevated, and means on the carrier adapted to engage over a part of the car so that the carrier and. car may be tilted.

10. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the car, tracks for loaded and empty cars at the lower part of the hoist, said carrier having a portion which passes downward between the rails of the track for the empty cars, thence passes laterally beneath the inner rails of both tracks and thence passes upwardly between the rails of the track for the loaded cars, so that an empty car will be deposited on the track for the empty cars and a loaded car on the other track will be engaged and elevated, and automatic car locking means on the carrier adapted to permit the release of a car from the carrier and to lock the car to the carrier when the carrier engages a loaded car.

11. In a hoist, a carrier for a car, a pair of endless hoisting and lowering members pivot-ally supporting the carrier, means on said carrier for holding a car thereto, and means for tilting the carrier and car later ally so as to dump the contents of the car over one side thereof.

12. In a hoist, a pair of endless chains, a carrier pivotally supported between said too chains, said carrier comprising a pair of upright arms standing alongside the chains, and a transverse bottom member extending between the lower ends of said arms, said carrier being provided with a plurality of supports adapted to engage different parts of the car including two supports for the car bumpers, and movable locking means normally above said last named supports and adapted to move over the bumpers to hold the car onto the carrier.

13. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to travel in a circuit, a pair of endless traveling means to which the carrier is pivotally connected, a chute at the top of the hoist, cooperating guide members on the chute and on the carrier for-tilting laterally the carrier and car supported thereon, so that the contents of the car will be discharged or dumped from the side of the car, and means for holding the car onto the carrier during the dumping operation.

14. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the car, and provided with ascending and descending sections, means whereby during the movement of the carrier a loaded car may be picked up thereby and elevated, and shock absorber mechanism acting on the ascending sections to minimize the shock when a loaded car is picked up.

15. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold a car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier and provided with ascending and descending'sections, means whereby a loaded car is picked up at the bottom of the hoist and elevated with the carrier, and idlers bearing yieldingly against the ascending parts of the endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier.

16. In a hoist, a carrier adapted to hold the car, endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier and provided with ascending and descending sections, means whereby a loaded car is picked up at the bottom of the hoist and elevated with the carrier, and idlers bearing yieldingly against the ascending parts of the endless means for elevating and lowering the carrier, and adjustable counterweights acting on said idlers' to vary the pressure of said idlers as the defiectlon in sa d ascending sections vary.

17. In an automatic hoist, a pair of endless chains, .a carrier supported by the chains and adapted to pick up a car at the bottom of the hoist and to convey the same upwardly along the ascending parts of the chains and downwardly along the descending parts thereof, means for continuously operating said chains and carrier so that during the same continuous movement of the chains a car is picked up, elevated, then lowered to a predetermined point, and movable locking means automatically moving over a portion of the car on the carrier when the car is picked up by the carrier, so as to hold the car onto the carrier, and means for automatically shifting the locking means out of locking position when the car reaches a predetermined point in its descent.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses,

HAR ES G- PA M R- lVitnesses L. l. Ponrnn, A, F. Kwis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, 1 C. 

